Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has addressed the buzz around the use of the phrase ‘flop actor’ in reference to his character in the upcoming comedy ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, urging audiences to read the line within its cinematic context rather than as a personal slight. The actor made the remarks at the film’s trailer launch in Mumbai on Thursday, 12 June.

What Akshay Kumar Said

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Kumar was candid about the dialogue. “We are not told that you have to use such dialogues as taunts. So, when you watch a movie, I am sure you are a smart person. Whenever you watch a movie, you watch it according to the character of the movie. So, please, thank you for feeling bad about it. But don’t take it so seriously,” he said.

The remark had drawn attention online ahead of the trailer launch, with many speculating whether it was a self-deprecating nod to the actor’s recent run of underperforming films. Kumar’s clarification suggests the line is a scripted character moment, not an autobiographical admission.

A Reunion with Raveena Tandon

The trailer launch also turned into a nostalgic occasion, with Kumar sharing screen space once again with actress Raveena Tandon, his former co-star and well-publicised romantic partner in the 1990s. Kumar noted, with evident warmth, how the passage of time has reshaped their professional dynamic — Tandon, who once headlined films as a leading lady, now plays the mother of a heroine in the same franchise. The heroine in question is Rasha Thadani, Tandon’s own daughter, making the generational shift all the more pointed.

Kumar Praises Tandon’s Professionalism

Kumar went on to praise Tandon’s work ethic, recalling a specific moment from a shoot decades ago. “I want to tell you about Raveena that she has been very very professional. I still remember, I was shooting a film where the sun was about to set. And when the sun was about to set, there were only 25–30 minutes. And the green room was very far and she had to quickly change and come. That was impossible. But I still remember, she went to the generator van and quickly changed and came,” he said.

He added: “So that has been, a lot of changes have happened. She is a brilliant actor. And one more thing that has changed, earlier she was a heroine, now she is a heroine’s mother.”

About Welcome to the Jungle

‘Welcome to the Jungle’ is the latest instalment in the long-running Welcome franchise, which has been a reliable commercial property for Bollywood since the mid-2000s. The film features an ensemble cast and marks a notable reunion of several actors from earlier chapters of the series. The trailer launch in Mumbai drew significant media attention, partly because of the franchise’s established fan base and partly because of Kumar’s recent box-office trajectory, which has been closely watched by industry observers.

With the trailer now out, audience response will be a key early indicator of whether the franchise’s nostalgia factor can translate into opening-weekend numbers.